(JTA) — Representatives of Brazil’s Jewish community said their government’s recall of its ambassador from Israel amounted to a defense of Hamas.

The statement by CONIB, an umbrella body, came Thursday, a day after Brasilia announced that it was recalling for consultation its ambassador to Israel, Henrique Sardinha, to protest Israel’s attacks on Hamas in Gaza.

CONIB expressed its “indignation with the announcement sent Wednesday, which evidences a one-sided attitude to the conflict in Gaza in which the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticizes Israel and ignores the actions of the terrorist group Hamas,” CONIB wrote in a statement titled “Reaction to Itamaraty’s declaration which criticizes Israel and spares Hamas any criticism.”

Itamaraty is the name of the palace that houses the ministry.

In its statement Wednesday, the ministry wrote: “The Brazilian government considers as unacceptable the escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine. We vigorously condemn the use of disproportionate force by Israel in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in an elevated number of civilians victims, including women and children.”

The statement mentioned neither Hamas nor any other offensive actions by Palestinians.

Israel must eliminate hamas totaly,..........they are criminals of the worst kind,...........also for the inhabitants from Gaza,.just kill them all,..........and destroy islam . People how read coran-crap and take it for granted are sic and have no place in 2014. Jack B,......Amsterdam The Netherlands

What a loser! You probably grew up in a social housing and had a violent sadistic past and that is why you insult 1.4 billion Muslims. Your lifestyle prevented you from distinguishing between 'good' & 'evil'!

Asher... What does it mean when he says ,destroy Islam? How vile is this? You know what We Muslims are not allowed to say anything against Judaism, Christianity. We must regard them as people of the book.